How to String a Recurve Bow

When you own a bow, you want to do everything that you can in order to make sure that it stays in the best condition possible. It’s sometimes pricey to replace parts, and it can be difficult to make sure that you get the right ones for what you need. That being said, you usually have to take the string off of your recurve bow before you put it away so that it stays in good condition. Taking the string off is simple enough; but how do you put the string back on? Or, how do you first put a string on the new recurve bow that you’ve built or bought? Here are some tips.

• There are two main tips to your bow, the lower one and the upper one. When you look at your bow, you will notice that each of them have a slot where you can set the string, and your string will have a loop that you can utilize in order to put it on the bow. Make sure that your bow is right side up so that you aren’t stringing it upside down. It should be clear which side is up.
• Start with the lower tip of your bow, and slip the string on it, while holding the other loop on the string in your dominant hand.
• At that point, you’ll want to grab on the upper tip of your bow with your dominant hand, while still holding the loop in that hand as well. You want to have a firm grip on both at this point so that you don’t have any problems with it.
• Lay the lower tip on the outer part of the foot that is opposite your dominant hand. Make sure that it’s firm on there and doesn’t move around.
• Step through the bow with your dominant leg, pushing on the curve of the bow with your thigh to hold it tight so when you string it, you don’t have an issue with it. Be gentle, however, because you need to make sure that you don’t break the bow while you’re stringing it. Push on the bow enough so that you can loop the string over it.
• After you’ve strung the bow, gently release your thigh from it so that the string can tense up without snapping.
• Test it out by pulling the string back without having an arrow knocked. That way, you can make sure that there isn’t any wear and tear going on with the string before you actually use it to shoot with.

Stringing your recurve bow may feel a little difficult at first, but as time goes on, it becomes a lot easier after you’ve practiced for a bit. By knowing how to string your bow, you’re in a much better position to take care of it properly and you’ll have a much better chance of having that bow for a long period of time. If you need some hands on experience, work with a pro to see how it works first hand.

Another and easier way to string a bow is to use a simple (and cheap) stringer, like this one, and follows the steps as in this video: